Stephen Colbert Wants Authors on 'Late Show'

--Gwen Reyes

During the Television Critics Association summer press tour new LATE SHOW host Stephen Colbert announced his plans for the rebooted talk show (premiering Monday, September 8th on CBS). Although he is dropping the popular character that made him famous for a more real version of himself, he still plans to bring some aspects of the Comedy Central show THE COLBERT REPORT with him. Mainly in the form of unconventional guests like politicians, every-day people, and authors.

"It became my favorite part," said Colbert about dropping the curtain to interview his guests. "I thought it was going to be the jokes, but it became the interviews."

Books and authors were a huge part of THE COLBERT REPORT, but the question was posed whether or not Colbert would want to continue having authors on his show once making the big switch in September.

"Would it shock you if I said none?" Asked Colbert to the press conference room regarding how many books he reads in a week.

"I didn't read one book," Colbert delivered deadpan before adding, "I gotcha. I read as many as I can because I read so much for the show. I will hopefully have more time to read on this new show, but the balance between authors to politicians to musicians? I don't know what it's going to be."

Colbert enjoys attacking the interview head-on, but also being able to relate and understand where his guest is coming from -- regardless if they are celebrities or just someone in a local community.

"I want a point of view about what the project is," continued Colbert, "or what their position is. Is it political? Or what the idea of their book is. I'm honestly interested in them. As much as I'm a satirist, I'm not detached from anything I talk about or anyone I talk to. I learned as a performer to be passionately attached to what you're talking about because then your conversation has legs. You're not pretending."

"I never fake my orgasms," joked Colbert, confirming his commitment to his craft.

THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT premieres on Monday, September 8th on CBS with actor George Clooney and musical guest Kendrick Lamar.